C Sathya’s Ponmaalai Pozhudhu is not a knockoutsoundtrack but is certainly a solid and satisfyingeffort

The album begins with Adikkadi…, a simple tune, sung by Hariharan in his characteristic casual manner, with guitars rocking the backgrounds. Masala Chicks…, sung by N S Ramya with the faux western modulation that the tune deserves, feels like an indipop number from the early 2000s. In fact, it deserves comparison with Harris Jayaraj’s Sariya Thavara… from 12B. Madhan Karky’s attempt at conjuring lyrics in the andhadhi format works quite brilliantly in the short and sweet Nee Indri…, which is all about a boy missing his loved one. On the other hand, Vaargodhumai Kal… (in case you are wondering what the word means, it is the Tamil equivalent of beer), a merry number that is more a call for hanging out than partying, feels like Karky went in for pure Tamil words just for the sake of it, as the Tamil words feel awkward and out of place (unlike Ko’s Kuviamilla… for instance) with the mood of the song. But, after a couple of listens, and once you have got the hang of the less frequently used Tamil words (don’t youngsters in the city say weekend rather than vaara kadaisi?), you feel more comfortable with the song and even appreciate the audacity of the lyricist and the composer to go on such an experimental mode. The only downer is composer Sathya’s attempts to alter the rhythm of the song to a folksy one midway through the song which feels quite forced. Iravugalil… has the dependable Karthik going what he does best; soothing you with his melodious voice. And, Thamarai’s breezy lyrics deftly capture the mood of a lovelorn youngster. However, Steve Vatz, who sings the soft rock-ish chorus, sounds a bit nasal. While it isn’t a knockout in terms of aural experience, Ponmaalai Pozhu is a solid and satisfying soundtrack from Sathya after his engaging Engaeyum Eppothum.